The startling 1960s theory that Stonehenge was a prehistoric computer

In 1966, Boston astronomy professor Gerald Hawkins proposed that Stonehenge functioned as a prehistoric computer designed to predict lunar eclipses, based on the alignment of its stones and a specific configuration of 56 holes around its circumference. Hawkins theorized that ancient Britons over 4,500 years ago could have used these astronomical alignments to accurately forecast eclipses, which he believed held significant spiritual importance for the monument's builders. His theory, detailed in his influential 1965 book "Stonehenge Decoded," represented a bold departure from conventional interpretations of the site as a religious or ceremonial location.